Combined food and food-plate warming device

• US 7,276,676 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jennifer J. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Jennifer J. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Jennifer J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FUQUA, SHAWNTINA T
• Application Number:
  US11/344,709
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 219/439, 219/202, 219/387, 219/433, 219/506, 219/521, 219/429, 219/432, 219/428, 392/444
• US Class Current: 219/439
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2483 with electrical heating means

Abstract

A food and food-plate warming device includes a base plate that has a planar top surface and has an outwardly beveled edge provided with laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from the top surface center. A cover plate is positioned on the base plate and has an outer lip that is nested on one of the stepped ridges. Handles are conjoined to the outer lip for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals therethrough. A mechanism is included for heating the base plate top surface such that the food and food-plate interfitted between the base plate and the cover plate can be heated. The heating mechanism includes a heating element intercalated between the top and bottom surfaces of the first base plate. An automatic shut off switch is coupled to the heating element for interrupting power to the heating element when an interior temperature of the device reaches a maximum threshold temperature.

Claims

1. A combined food and food-plate warming device for assisting arthritic users to simultaneously heat refrigerated foodstuff seated on a cold plate, said combined food and food-plate warming device comprising:

a first base plate having an annular shape provided with a planar top surface, said base plate further having an outwardly beveled edge provided with a plurality of laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from a center of said top surface;

a first cover plate directly positioned on said base plate, said cover plate having an annular shape provided with an outer lip directly nested on top of an outer one of said stepped ridges such that heat and steam are prevented from escaping away from an interior of said warming device, said base plate including a plurality of handles directly conjoined to said outwardly beveled edge and diametrically spaced along an outer perimeter of said base plate, said handles being suitably sized and shaped for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals of the user therethrough; and

means for heating said top surface of said base plate in such a manner that the food and food-plate interfitted between said base plate and said cover plate can be effectively heated after a predetermined time interval;

a third base plate and a third cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith, said third base plate having a contoured and beveled bottom surface, said second cover plate having a contoured and beveled top surface having a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of said third base plate bottom surface respectively such that said third base plate and said second cover plate become interlocked when directly engaged and adapted to a vertically stacked position;

wherein each said first, second and third top plates comprise

a knob centrally conjoined thereto and protruding vertically upwards such that a longitudinal length of said knob is oriented perpendicular to a respective one of said first, second and third top plates.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second base plate and a second cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith, said second base plate having a contoured and beveled bottom surface, said first cover plate having a contoured and beveled top surface having a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of said second base plate bottom surface respectively such that said second base plate and said first cover plate become interlocked when vertically stacked on each other.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third top plates comprise:

a plurality of concentrically positioned annular ridges centrally registered from a respective center of said first, second and third top plates.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each said first, second and third base plates are provided with a chamfered region defining a notch suitably sized and shaped for receiving said knobs therein when said first, second and third base and cover plates are vertically stacked respectively.

5. A combined food and food-plate warming device for assisting arthritic users to simultaneously heat refrigerated foodstuff seated on a cold plate, said combined food and food-plate warming device comprising:

a first base plate having an annular shape provided with a planar top surface, said base plate further having an outwardly beveled edge provided with a plurality of laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from a center of said top surface;

a first cover plate directly positioned on said base plate, said cover plate having an annular shape provided with an outer lip directly nested on top of an outer one of said stepped ridges such that heat and steam are prevented from escaping away from an interior of said warming device, said base plate including a plurality of handles directly conjoined to said outwardly beveled edge and diametrically spaced along an outer perimeter of said base plate, said handles being suitably sized and shaped for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals of the user therethrough, wherein said first base plate bottom surface and said first cover plate top surface have an oscillating pattern; and

means for heating said top surface of said base plate in such a manner that the food and food-plate interfitted between said base plate and said cover plate can be effectively heated after a predetermined time interval;

a third base plate and a third cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith, said third base plate having a contoured and beveled bottom surface, said second cover plate having a contoured and beveled top surface having a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of said third base plate bottom surface respectively such that said third base plate and said second cover plate become interlocked when directly engaged and adapted to a vertically stacked position;

wherein each said first, second and third top plates comprise;

a knob central conjoined thereto and protruding vertically upwards such that a longitudinal length of said knob is oriented perpendicular to a respective one of said first, second and third ton plates.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a second base plate and a second cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith, said second base plate having a contoured and beveled bottom surface, said first cover plate having a contoured and beveled top surface having a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of said second base plate bottom surface respectively such that said second base plate and said first cover plate become interlocked when vertically stacked on each other.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said first, second and third top plates comprise:

a plurality of concentrically positioned annular ridges centrally registered from a respective center of said first, second and third top plates.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein each said first, second and third base plates are provided with a chamfered region defining a notch suitably sized and shaped for receiving said knobs therein when said first, second and third base and cover plates are vertically stacked respectively.

9. A combined food and food-plate warming device for assisting arthritic users to simultaneously heat refrigerated foodstuff seated on a cold plate, said combined food and food-plate warming device comprising:

a first base plate having an annular shape provided with a planar top surface, said base plate further having an outwardly beveled edge provided with a plurality of laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from a center of said top surface;

a first cover plate directly positioned on said base plate, said cover plate having an annular shape provided with an outer lip directly nested on top of an outer one of said stepped ridges such that heat and steam are prevented from escaping away from an interior of said warming device, said base plate including a plurality of handles directly conjoined to said outwardly beveled edge and diametrically spaced along an outer perimeter of said base plate, said handles being suitably sized and shaped for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals of the user therethrough, wherein said first base plate bottom surface and said first cover plate top surface have an oscillating pattern; and

means for heating said top surface of said base plate in such a manner that the food and food-plate interfitted between said base plate and said cover plate can be effectively heated after a predetermined time interval, wherein said heating means comprises;

an enclosed housing removably abutted directly against said bottom surface of said base plate, said housing having a cavity formed therein and further having a plurality of access holes formed at opposed ends of said housing;

a unitary and continuous heating element disposed within said cavity such that said heating element is invisible to the user; and

an automatic shut off switch electrically coupled to said heating element for interrupting power to said heating element when an interior temperature of said warming device reaches a maximum threshold temperature;

wherein a top surface of said housing and said bottom surface of said base plate define a plurality of gaps therebetween for allowing heat to circulate along an entire surface area of said base plate and evenly distribute heat therealong;

a third base plate and a third cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith, said third base plate having a contoured and beveled bottom surface, said second cover plate having a contoured and beveled top surface having a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of said third base plate bottom surface respectively such that said third base plate and said second cover plate become interlocked when directly engaged and adapted to a vertically stacked position;

wherein each said first, second and third top plates comprise;

a knob centrally conjoined thereto and protruding vertically upwards such that a longitudinal length of said knob is oriented perpendicular to a respective one of said first, second and third top plates.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

a second base plate and a second cover plate directly and removably conjoined therewith, said second base plate having a contoured and beveled bottom surface, said first cover plate having a contoured and beveled top surface having a symmetrically opposite and mirror shape of said second base plate bottom surface respectively such that said second base plate and said first cover plate become interlocked when vertically stacked on each other.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said first, second and third top plates comprise:

a plurality of concentrically positioned annular ridges centrally registered from a respective center of said first, second and third top plates.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein each said first, second and third base plates are provided with a chamfered region defining a notch suitably sized and shaped for receiving said knobs therein when said first, second and third base and cover plates are vertically stacked respectively.